Everton v Manchester City: Preview

06 May 2011 09:59

Everton boss David Moyes would love the riches of Manchester City, but claims there is no room for jealousy.

Moyes is focusing only on his own side as he prepares for the visit of Roberto Mancini's expensively-assembled FA Cup finalists in the Barclays Premier League.

Moyes recognises the continuing progress of the Eastlands outfit under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour.

But while City can take a significant step towards their season's ultimate goal of Champions League qualification with victory at Goodison Park, Moyes is not worrying about his own club's relatively meagre resources.

The Scot said: "I think all managers would look and say there is a bit of envy because of what they have got, but you can't do that.

"You have got to get on with your own job and look at your own team and what you can do.

"The players play for Everton and they play against whoever is put out.

"We look at Manchester City and acknowledge they have a team full of talent, but so do we and hopefully we will be able to show that."

Moyes sees parallels between Everton and City as both have spent large portions of their histories in the shadow of more illustrious neighbours.

That, he believes, makes for feisty encounters between the sides.

"We have always been, in both cities, underdogs," said Moyes, whose side have actually dominated recent meetings with City, winning six of the last seven.

"Both of us have been fighting to overhaul the biggest teams in the city and so from that point of view there is a game on.

"But Manchester City in recent years have become one of the biggest clubs not just in our country, but the world.

"It will make for a good game and hopefully a competitive one."

Key pair Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta are both getting closer to full match fitness after playing for just over an hour in last week's disappointing draw at Wigan.

John Heitinga could also come back into contention after two games out with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Mancini has warned Manchester City not to ease off as they close in on the Champions League.

A place in Europe's number one club competition could be secured as early as Saturday evening should City overcome Everton at Goodison Park and Tottenham lose to Blackpool in the later game.

More likely, City will have to wait until next Tuesday's home encounter with Spurs to confirm their new exalted status.

Not that Mancini is getting stressed about that. He is just imploring his team to retain their focus.

"It is important to reach the Champions League by the end of the season, it doesn't matter whether it is Saturday or Tuesday or any of the four games we still have left," he said.

"We need another four points. Then we would be 100% sure.

"It was the first target we had when we started the season and at this moment we have a big chance.

"But we have done nothing yet."

Micah Richards could return to the Manchester City squad.

The full-back has been missing for six weeks with a hamstring injury but Mancini is ready to hand Richards a place on the bench.

Pablo Zabaleta and Nigel de Jong have recovered from minor knocks but Carlos Tevez (hamstring) is not expected to be involved.